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A4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday April 12, 2000 Senator defends hard-working members of Upper House By K A TH Y Y A N C H U S SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The recent public uproar over a way ward senator and the subsequent contro versy surrounding the upper chamber was, in retrospect, a good thing, accord ing to Senator Isobel Finnerty. Monday morning, the Burlington res ident squeezed in an hour to speak open ly and candidly about her job to a group of St. Ignatius of Loyola history and law students before boarding a plane back to Ottawa. She told the students the flak caused the senate to defend its accountability. Most senators, she emphasized, work extremely hard, even on their so-called holidays. "If we are away for a day, if we are away sick, we have to get a doctor's cer tificate." said Finnerty. "If we miss one day, we are docked a percentage of our pay. My day begins at 7:30 a.m. and if I'm home by 8, I'm happy." The senate is like a cup of tea set to cool, quoted Finnerty. "It cools off the process with calm, serious thought so that bills can be amended and made better." Senate members should never be elected because they then would be in conflict with members of parliament, she said in response to a question. "They can't both be in the same job," she said. To dispel a myth that senators are all breathing fossils, Finnerty said the aver age age is 64 and "most people quit before they're 75." Although Finnerty was appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien last September, she knows how busy and dedicated senators must be and is in full agreement with the mandatory retire ment age of 75. "I don't know what my energy level would be like at 75," she said. Finnerty grew up in northern Ontario and became involved in politics, particu larly related to the environment, while watching Timmins' abundance of natural resources being removed with "nothing Photo by Barrie Erskine coming back, no roads, no airports." An avid athlete in her community, Senator Isobel Finnerty: H alton res Finnerty was approached by the ident says she and h er colleagues Timmins' mayor to sit on the city's parks w ork very hard and recreation commission. "There was nothing for young ladies. will clarify the question for Quebeckers should they decide to hold another refer It was all hockey," she said. endum, and should be voted on by Timmins boasted 28 outdoor rinks, but they were filled with sticks and pucks Friday, said Finnerty. Other senate business includes legis so she suggested building an ice pad beside the boarded rinks so girls could lation which would increase the cost of a skate, too. She also instigated Jam Can package of cigarettes by 19-cents in an curling, improvising curling rocks with effort to deter youths from smoking, and cans filled with cement as well as teen private members' bills on consecutive sentencing and euthanasia. dances at the teen centre. The most important bill, however, is "I ended up staying there for 20 the Clarity Bill, she said. years," said Finnerty. "I think Quebec is spoiled. We can't When she found a candidate who sup ported environmental concerns she keep paying for the mistakes of the past. would get involved in their election cam I love the uniqueness of the French cul paigns and her political involvement ture. It's the French influence that makes continued as she and her CN executive us so unique. We can't ever lose that and I don't think we will." husband moved throughout Ontario. "I became quite good at it. Then I started working for the Liberal party and Town Manager retiring became its executive director within two after 24 years with years." Among the high profile politicians local government she has worked with are Pierre Trudeau, John Munro and David Peterson. Oakville Town Manager Harry "Working with Trudeau was the Henderson has announced he will be greatest experience of my life. You were retiring this spring after 24 years in absolute awe of his intelligence. Jean with the municipality. Chretien is the most street smart politi The date of Henderson's retire cian I've ever met and I've met a lot." ment - in either May or June - will Finnerty also ran Chretien's leader be determined in consultation with ship campaign and it was he who Town Council. appointed her to the senate last fall. For the past 16 years, Henderson "There I was at the cottage up in served as Town manager. Prior to Timmins, in my Shania Twain T-shirt, that, he was Town Treasurer for and I got the call," she smiled. more than eight years. At the time, she didn't realize how "It has been a great pleasure to much her life would change, but she is work with Mr. Henderson during honored to be one of 34 women sitting in my tenure as mayor and as a coun the non-partisan senate. cillor before that," said Ann "There is every nationality, every edu Mulvale. "His considerable skills cational background. We bring to the and commitment to Oakville have table a lot of different life experiences." served the town and its people Among the most important bill facing extremely well." the senate today is the Clarity Bill, which JUBILEE 2000 T h e R o m a n C a t h o lic P a r is h e s o f O a k v i l l e in v it e y o u to jo in u s f o r th e r l c O QUO r u n O c e le b r a t io n s o f H o ly W e e k in t h is y e a r o f th e G r e a t J u b ile e . INVITED TO THE FEAST R E C O N C IL IA T IO N S t Andrew 47 Reynolds Street S t Dominic 2415 Rebecca Street S t Janies 231 Morden Road S t Michael 181 Sewell Drive S t Matthew 1150 Monks Passage M ary Mother of God St. Marguerite School 1359 Bayshire Rd Parish Rectory 463 Glenashton Dr. Wednesday, April 19, 2000 Tuesday, April 18, 2000 Sunday, April 16, 2000 (communal) Saturday, April 15, 2000 Saturday, April 15, 2000 Saturday, April 15, 2000 Wednesday, April 19, 2000 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PALM SUNDAY EUCHARIST (April 16, 2000) Sunday at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:00 noon St. Andrew Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Sunday at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. St. Dominic Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 8:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m. (Italian), 11:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m. St. James Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Sunday at 8:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. St. Michael Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. St. Matthew Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Mary Mother of God Sunday at 9:00 a.m., 11.00 a.m. Saturday at 5:00 p.m. HOLY THURSDAY - MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER (April 20) With the exception of St. James Parish (7:00 p.m.) and Mary Mother of God Parish (7:30 p.m.) all celebrations of this liturgy begin at 8:00 p.m. GOOD FRIDAY CELEBRATION OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (April 21) All parishes will celebrate this liturgy at 3:00 p.m. HOLY SATURDAY CELEBRATION OF THE EASTER VIGIL (April 22) With the exception of St. Dominic Parish (9:00 p.m.) all parishes will celebrate this liturgy at 8:00 p.m. EASTER SUNDAY: THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD (April 23) All parishes will celebrate the Eucharist as on Palm Sunday with the following exceptions: The Easter Vigil replaces the regularly scheduled Saturday evening Mass in all parishes. St. Dominic Masses at 8:30 a m.; 10:30 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.; St. James - no 5:00 p.m. Mass; St. Michael - add 7:30 a.m. For other schedules, call St. Joseph Parish (Portuguese) 825-2043; St. Anthony Parish (Polish) 845-6067; Holy Trinity Parish (Croatian) 842-2386. ENNISCLARE INTERIORS A T r a d i t i o n of E l e g a n c e Developer donates $25,000 to Bronte Butterfly Project The Bronte Butterfly Project has received a $25,000 pledge from Metrus Development Inc.. The Concord land development corporation, which recently purchased the 338-acre former Shell Research site for residential development, will donate the money over a five-year period. The Metrus donation is the third major donation announced by the Bronte Butterfly Foundation in two weeks. Last week, the foundation announced a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and a $25,000 dona tion of engineering services by Cimco Refrigeration, the largest skating rink contractor in the world. The Trillium Foundation grant will be spread over two years to cover fundraising costs including staffing, organiza tional support and office expenses. So far, more than $500,000 has been raised towards the $2.44 million project. The three-acre park, which will incorporate a butterfly garden, formal gardens, pathways, fountains, a gazebo and an outdoor skating area in the winter, is planned for the mouth of the Bronte Outer Harbour at Heritage Park, south of Ontario Street. Plans are for the lakeside skating area, which will be in the shape of a butterfly, to open this coming winter. The but terfly sanctuary and park are expected to open next spring or summer. Construction on the project is due to begin in mid-May. About $45,000 has been donated by individuals, with the purchase of paving stones and benches most popular among local residents. The paving stones, which will line the paths of the park and welcome visitors at the entrance, are priced between $25 and $100 depending on their size and location. Donors will have their names etched in the stones. Spring Sale STORE W IDE IS ON NOW F rom s o fa s to s u ite s ... you g e t u n s u r p a s s e d s e le c tio n , s e r v ic e a n d quality. A. Deep and cozy sofa Over 1,000 designer fabrics. Starting grade. Reg. price, $5569. B. Bob Mackie C. Square cocktail table. D. Rectangular end table. 'Treasures from the Reg. price, $1649. Reg. price, $829. Past' Bunching curio. Reg. price, $3899. G ^a le*1199 <=^le*619 d?aie*3299 (M \c *2899 The p e rfe c t g ift th a t's alw ays w elcom e ENNISCLARE INTERIORS 1075 NORTH SERVICE RD. WEST, OAKVILLE. Tel: (905) 825-2450 STORE HOURS: Mon., Tues., Wed. & Sat.10:00 am to 5:30 pm Thurs. & Fri. 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Sun. Noon to 5:00 pm AD 0415